Missing Anaheim teen returns home

ANAHEIM – A 14-year-old girl missing for more than two weeks returned home Wednesday, and the 24-year-old man police say she was with was arrested on suspicion of committing several sex crimes, a police sergeant said Thursday.

The teenager left her family's home about 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, with family members believing that she was walking to a Jack in the Box restaurant at Dale Street and Ball Road.

Based on Internet communications, it was originally believed that teen was planning to "covertly" meet a 15-year-old boy, Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez said, adding that the boy didn't show up.

On Wednesday, the teen's sister called detectives who were handling the case and said her sister had returned home, Martinez said.

"She has been with this 24-year-old male the entire time at his residence in west Anaheim," Martinez said. "She has not been held against her will."

On Thursday morning, police arrested Christopher Sergio Hernandez at his home. He was booked at the Anaheim Detention Facility on suspicion of committing several sex crimes, including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, Martinez said.

The investigation revealed that when the boy the teen had planned to meet didn't show up, she began chatting with Hernandez and went home with him, Martinez said.

The teen's family hired a private investigator to find her, and during the Nov. 8 Anaheim City Council meeting the family passed out dozens of fliers around City Hall.

Her family could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Register is not printing her name because police say she was the victim of sex crimes.

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